System and method for post-occlusion surge mitigation

Abstract

A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. One or more pressure sensors detect a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A surgical system, comprising:
 an irrigation conduit in fluid communication with a handpiece and configured to carry fluid toward a surgical site; 
 an aspiration conduit in fluid communication with the handpiece and configured to carry fluid away from the surgical site; 
 an aspiration pump configured to create a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir; 
 a venturi reservoir configured to hold fluid at a controlled reservoir pressure; 
 a valve fluidically coupled to the venturi reservoir; wherein the valve comprises:
 one or more first channels to provide fluid communication between the venturi reservoir and the aspiration conduit; 
 one or more second channels to provide fluid communication between the venturi reservoir and the aspiration pump; 
 
 a first pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure associated with the surgical site; and 
 wherein the system is configured to control the valve in response to the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to decrease the vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit when the pressure associated with the surgical site is less than a first pressure threshold. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to decrease the vacuum pressure by controlling the valve to allow fluid from the venturi reservoir to the aspiration conduit. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein controlling the valve to allow fluid from the venturi reservoir to the aspiration conduit comprises providing a channel of the one or more first channels from the venturi reservoir to an aspiration connector, the aspiration connector configured to couple to the handpiece. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to simultaneously provide the one or more first channels between the aspiration conduit and the venturi reservoir and the one or more second channels between the venturi reservoir and the aspiration pump for dual venting. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , the first pressure threshold having a value in the range of 0 to 207 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first pressure sensor detects when the pressure associated with the surgical site is less than the first pressure threshold. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , the first pressure sensor comprising an irrigation pressure sensor configured to detect an irrigation pressure within the irrigation conduit. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , the first pressure sensor comprising an irrigation pressure sensor configured to detect an irrigation pressure at the surgical site. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , the first pressure sensor located at the handpiece. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to cease the decrease of the vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit by controlling the valve to cease allowing the fluid after a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to cease the decrease of the vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit by controlling the valve to cease allowing the fluid when a diverter of the valve reaches a closing angle. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is further configured to:
 control the valve to cease the decrease of the vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit when the pressure associated with the surgical site reaches a second pressure threshold by controlling the valve to cease allowing the fluid. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , the second pressure threshold having a value in the range of 0 to 760 mmHg. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a second pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor detects when the pressure associated with the surgical site reaches the second pressure threshold. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , the second pressure sensor comprising an aspiration pressure sensor configured to detect an aspiration pressure within the aspiration conduit. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir pressure of the venturi reservoir is maintained at a specific pressure with a value in the range of 0 to 500 mmHg. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , the valve located along the aspiration conduit and between an aspiration connector and the venturi reservoir, the aspiration connector configured to couple to the handpiece. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to disable a pressure-vacuum source coupled to the venturi reservoir. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a rotary valve located at the venturi reservoir.